Five communist rebels were killed while three troopers of the Philippine Army were slightly wounded in a clash at Barangay Paitan in Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Saturday morning.
In a report, the 303rd Infantry Brigade identified the injured soldiers as Corporals Homer Aniversario, Ronald Tuhao, and Jerald Caluyo, who were hit by splinters of anti-personnel (AP) mine detonated by the New People’s Army (NPA) at the encounter site in Sitio Morino.
The three, who were treated in a hospital, were among the troops of 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) who engaged in a 45-minute gunfight with about 30 rebels around 6:45 a.m., following reports of NPA presence in the area.
The troops were not able to recover the bodies of the rebel casualties, but saw enemies dragging them away as also witnessed by local residents.
They also found heavy bloodstains in the area occupied by the NPA and in their route of withdrawal.
Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, commanding officer of 79IB based in the neighboring Sagay City, said he deployed a platoon size of troops to respond to the security concerns of Paitan village, which led to the encounter.
He noted that the communist rebels have apparently set up a lair in the area.
Reinforcements arrived for pursuit operations, along with two helicopters of the Philippine Air Force, Logan said.
Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 303IBde stationed in Murcia, Negros Occidental, encouraged residents to report information about NPA activities to them.
“The Army will continue its offensive against the terrorist NPA,” he added.
During the clearing operation, the troops recovered an AP mine, a 20-meter detonating wire, a five-meter utility rope, a backpack, two G-Shock watches, subversive pamphlets, documents and lecture materials, a hammock, a cap, eating utensils and toiletries, among others.
The encounter caused evacuation of 329 residents of Sitios Morino, Mansano, and Kagayon, who temporarily stayed at Paitan Elementary School as of Saturday night.
The displaced families were provided food and medical assistance by the Quick Reaction Team formed by the 79IB together with concerned offices of Escalante City. (Nanette Guadalquiver, PNA via NDB)